Magnificent Myra - or Is It?
Located in the sleepy, modern day town of Demre, Turkey, Myra was once one of the largest and most important cities of the Lycian Union. While there is no written mention of the town before the 1st century BC, it must have been established for quite some time to achieve that ranking.
But little remains of the ancient metropolis. Why aren't there more finds for a city of this significance?
Most archaeologists agree that the majority of the city is still buried under 6 meters (18 feet!) of alluvial silt deposited by the Myros River.
What Do We Actually Know About Myra?
- It was founded on a fertile alluvial plain, so agriculture was likely an important industry in the area. (Today, Demre is known for its production of tomatoes and cucumbers.)
- Myra was mentioned in the New Testament because St. Paul changed boats in the city's Andriake harbour on his way to trial in Rome around 60 AD.
- St. Nicholas was a bishop in the local church early in the 3rd century. He destroyed many of the city's beautiful temples, including a great temple dedicated to the goddess Artemis Eleuthera (the ancient mother goddess of Anatolia) in an effort to eliminate paganism in the population.
- The city was home to the largest theatre in Lycia. With 38 rows of seating, the massive Greco-Roman theatre could accommodate 12,000 people. Unfortunately, the original theatre was destroyed by an earthquake 141 AD but was subsequently rebuilt by wealthy members of the community.
- The vertical cliff faces around the theatre contain dozens of intricately carved rock tombs which once housed the remains of Myra's most prominent citizenry. The Lycians believed that the deceased should feel at home in their final resting places, so these tombs were painted in bright hues of red, blue, yellow. The paint has faded over time, but the tombs are eye-catching none the less. Dating from the 4th century BC, most are decorated with carved funeral scenes, or scenes depicting the daily life of the deceased.
- A terrible plague killed off a third of Myra's population in 542 to 543 AD. Raids on the city, flooding, and earthquakes also took their toll, and the once-prosperous city was mostly abandoned by the 11th century.
Nowadays, Demre is not much more than a quaint Turkish village, housing bountiful, wall-to-wall greenhouses and a museum honouring St. Nicholas. But we know that the secrets of days gone by in ancient Myra are hidden just below the surface.
The Ruins of Ancient Myra: A Photo Gallery
Updated September 26, 2021
Click on any image to expand it.
![First view of the tombs and theatre at Myra after entering the open air museum](../img/gallery/A2914-thumb.jpg)
![Carving of a notable family of three who once lived in Myra](../img/gallery/A2918-thumb.jpg)
![Looking down towards the stage area of the ancient stone theatre at Myra](../img/gallery/A2936-thumb.jpg)
![Rock tombs in a cliff towering behind the theatre at Myra](../img/gallery/A2939-thumb.jpg)
![A close-up of the intricate stone carving on top of a doorway in the ancient Greco-Roman theatre](../img/gallery/A2944-thumb.jpg)
![Lycian rock tombs provide a backdrop to the restored theatre at Myra](../img/gallery/A2957-thumb.jpg)
![Ornate Lycian tombs carved into the face of a steep rock cliff](../img/gallery/G2818-thumb.jpg)
![Carving of a notable family of three who once lived in Myra](../img/gallery/G2820-thumb.jpg)
![Carving of a notable family of three who once lived in Myra](../img/gallery/G2822-thumb.jpg)
![Carving of a notable family of three who once lived in Myra with rock tombs in the distance](../img/gallery/G2826-thumb.jpg)
![Ornate Lycian tombs carved into the face of a steep rock cliff](../img/gallery/G2831-thumb.jpg)
![Seats and the main stage of the Lycian theatre at Myra](../img/gallery/G2847-thumb.jpg)
![Seats and the main stage of the Lycian theatre at Myra](../img/gallery/G2857-thumb.jpg)
![Tourists exploring the well-restored theatre at Myra](../img/gallery/G2859-thumb.jpg)
![Rock tombs overlooking the meticulously restored theatre at Myra](../img/gallery/G2867-thumb.jpg)
![The theatre at Myra surrounded by rocky hills](../img/gallery/G2889-thumb.jpg)
![Tourists milling about the open air museum at Myra in Demre, Antalya, Turkey](../img/gallery/G2890-thumb.jpg)
![The theatre at Myra surrounded by rocky hills](../img/gallery/G2897-thumb.jpg)
![The theatre at Myra surrounded by rock tombs in the surrounding cliffs](../img/gallery/G2900-thumb.jpg)
![Panoramic view of the theatre at Myra, surrounded by ancient tombs in the distance](../img/gallery/18-09-18-1651-thumb.jpg)
![Panorama of the theatre from the centre of the top row of seats with modern day Demre in the distance](../img/gallery/18-09-18-1653-thumb.jpg)
![Decorative carving depicting the family who ruled over ancient Myra when the tombs were first built, with rock tombs in the background](../img/gallery/H6389-thumb.jpg)
![View of the stone carved Lycian theatre at Myra, Demre, Turkey](../img/gallery/H6391-thumb.jpg)
![The theatre at Myra surrounded by rocky hills](../img/gallery/H6422-thumb.jpg)
![Detailed view of the intricate carving on the front of the rock tombs at Myra](../img/gallery/H7845-thumb.jpg)
![Detailed view of the intricate carving on the front of the rock tombs at Myra](../img/gallery/H7854-thumb.jpg)
![Remains of a statue and Greek lettering carved into an alcove on the wall at the Myra theatre](../img/gallery/H7857-thumb.jpg)
![Lycian rock tombs provide a backdrop to the theatre at Myra](../img/gallery/H7860-thumb.jpg)
![Looking up a stone block crafted staircase towards a brilliant blue sky](../img/gallery/H7863-thumb.jpg)
![A tall, narrow arched entrance way in the ruins of an ancient theatre](../img/gallery/H7865-thumb.jpg)
![Close-up of a decorative stone door-topper](../img/gallery/H7866-thumb.jpg)
![Piece of ornamental stone carving depicting the face of a female surrounded by leaves](../img/gallery/H7867-thumb.jpg)
![Overarching view of the restored theater at Myra](../img/gallery/J7938-thumb.jpg)
![Remnants of a stone carving depicting two male figures readying for battle, was likely part of a tomb decoration](../img/gallery/J7942-thumb.jpg)
![Stone carving on the face of the Lycian rock tombs at Myra](../img/gallery/J7946-thumb.jpg)
![Remains of rock carving of two figures holding a flower garland, on the face of the restored theater at Myra](../img/gallery/J7957-thumb.jpg)
![Remains of rock carving of two figures holding a flower garland, on the face of the restored theater at Myra](../img/gallery/J7958-thumb.jpg)
![Face of a Medusa-like character carved into rock, formed part of the theater decoration at Myra](../img/gallery/J8189-thumb.jpg)
![Overview of theatre and rock tombs at the active archaeologic site of ancient Myra](../img/gallery/J7963-thumb.jpg)
![First view of the tombs and theatre at Myra after entering the open air museum](../img/gallery/A2914.jpg)
![Carving of a notable family of three who once lived in Myra](../img/gallery/A2918.jpg)
![Looking down towards the stage area of the ancient stone theatre at Myra](../img/gallery/A2936.jpg)
![Rock tombs in a cliff towering behind the theatre at Myra](../img/gallery/A2939.jpg)
![A close-up of the intricate stone carving on top of a doorway in the ancient Greco-Roman theatre](../img/gallery/A2944.jpg)
![Lycian rock tombs provide a backdrop to the restored theatre at Myra](../img/gallery/A2957.jpg)
![Ornate Lycian tombs carved into the face of a steep rock cliff](../img/gallery/G2818.jpg)
![Carving of a notable family of three who once lived in Myra](../img/gallery/G2820.jpg)
![Carving of a notable family of three who once lived in Myra](../img/gallery/G2822.jpg)
![Carving of a notable family of three who once lived in Myra with rock tombs in the distance](../img/gallery/G2826.jpg)
![Ornate Lycian tombs carved into the face of a steep rock cliff](../img/gallery/G2831.jpg)
![Seats and the main stage of the Lycian theatre at Myra](../img/gallery/G2847.jpg)
![Seats and the main stage of the Lycian theatre at Myra](../img/gallery/G2857.jpg)
![Tourists exploring the well-restored theatre at Myra](../img/gallery/G2859.jpg)
![Rock tombs overlooking the meticulously restored theatre at Myra](../img/gallery/G2867.jpg)
![The theatre at Myra surrounded by rocky hills](../img/gallery/G2889.jpg)
![Tourists milling about the open air museum at Myra in Demre, Antalya, Turkey](../img/gallery/G2890.jpg)
![The theatre at Myra surrounded by rocky hills](../img/gallery/G2897.jpg)
![The theatre at Myra surrounded by rock tombs in the surrounding cliffs](../img/gallery/G2900.jpg)
![Panoramic view of the theatre at Myra, surrounded by ancient tombs in the distance](../img/gallery/18-09-18-1651.jpg)
![Panorama of the theatre from the centre of the top row of seats with modern day Demre in the distance](../img/gallery/18-09-18-1653.jpg)
![Decorative carving depicting the family who ruled over ancient Myra when the tombs were first built, with rock tombs in the background](../img/gallery/H6389.jpg)
![View of the stone carved Lycian theatre at Myra, Demre, Turkey](../img/gallery/H6391.jpg)
![The theatre at Myra surrounded by rocky hills](../img/gallery/H6422.jpg)
![Detailed view of the intricate carving on the front of the rock tombs at Myra](../img/gallery/H7845.jpg)
![Detailed view of the intricate carving on the front of the rock tombs at Myra](../img/gallery/H7854.jpg)
![Remains of a statue and Greek lettering carved into an alcove on the wall at the Myra theatre](../img/gallery/H7857.jpg)
![Lycian rock tombs provide a backdrop to the theatre at Myra](../img/gallery/H7860.jpg)
![Looking up a stone block crafted staircase towards a brilliant blue sky](../img/gallery/H7863.jpg)
![A tall, narrow arched entrance way in the ruins of an ancient theatre](../img/gallery/H7865.jpg)
![Close-up of a decorative stone door-topper](../img/gallery/H7866.jpg)
![Piece of ornamental stone carving depicting the face of a female surrounded by leaves](../img/gallery/H7867.jpg)
![Overarching view of the restored theater at Myra](../img/gallery/J7938.jpg)
![Remnants of a stone carving depicting two male figures readying for battle, was likely part of a tomb decoration](../img/gallery/J7942.jpg)
![Stone carving on the face of the Lycian rock tombs at Myra](../img/gallery/J7946.jpg)
![Remains of rock carving of two figures holding a flower garland, on the face of the restored theater at Myra](../img/gallery/J7957.jpg)
![Remains of rock carving of two figures holding a flower garland, on the face of the restored theater at Myra](../img/gallery/J7958.jpg)
![Face of a Medusa-like character carved into rock, formed part of the theater decoration at Myra](../img/gallery/J8189.jpg)
![Overview of theatre and rock tombs at the active archaeologic site of ancient Myra](../img/gallery/J7963.jpg)